Missing girl from Bloomington found unharmed in Minneapolis

Bloomington police said Monday that a 17-year-old girl missing since Saturday night has been found and returned to her mother.

Mercedes Joanne Beauchamp and her mother were staying at the Bloomington Extended Stay America at 7956 Lyndale Ave. S. when she went missing, police said. Beauchamp left the hotel room about 9:30 p.m. without her purse, wallet or cellphone, police said.

Sgt. Tom Williams, of the Bloomington Police Department, said the girl was found at the Salvation Army shelter in Minneapolis on Sunday afternoon by Minneapolis police.

Beauchamp allegedly left the hotel Saturday, made her way to the Mall of America about three miles away and ended up taking the light rail into Minneapolis.

Williams said he did not know why the girl left the hotel without telling her mother.